Less Than a Month Away:  Strategic Practice Management a Highlight at the DAC

How do advisors successfully engage multiple generations in a digital world in order to build and sustain family wealth?

That’s the question 18 speakers and close to 200 top advisors from across Canada will explore at the 12th Annual Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC), November 8 – 11, 2015.

Bestselling author and celebrated advisor David Christianson will be the Master of Ceremonies over the three days in Puerto Vallarta.  “This year, we will show advisors how to accommodate and adapt their practices to their clients’ changing lifestyles and priorities, providing “real time” wealth advisory services no matter where they are living around the world,” says David.  “We are excited to welcome extremely thought-provoking topics and outstanding speakers to the stage.”  To view the complete agenda, click here.

Day One

• Evelyn Jacks will discuss the “Embracing the Millennial Millionaire.” Canada is undergoing a significant tax reform that impacts family wealth creation and sustainability, and yet it’s rarely making headlines.  One reason – the provisions are complex and largely misunderstood by the very people who need to know:  the Millennial Millionaire.  Find out more, as Evelyn discusses the latest tax changes and multi-generational investment planning strategies.
• The Globe and Mail’s National Affairs Columnist Jeffrey Simpson will discuss our new “Sharing Economy” and his view on Canada’s future, what the new government will be faced with, and share his extensive insights into broad public policies that will shape both global and domestic economic affairs.  You’ll be better able to advise your clients about where to invest, and how tax policies may affect those decisions.
• Philip Petursson, Managing Director of the Portfolio Advisory Group for Title Sponsor, Manulife, will discuss new strategies for building “Risk Budgets” in portfolio management. Learn why it’s the age of the objective that really counts in multi-generation planning and why investing for the short term will bring desired long term results.
• Best-selling author and President of Prime Impressions, Catherine Bell and our sponsors will tap your best thoughts throughout the break in a fun digital survey on relationship management issues you’ll get a kick out of, as well as provide a number of aha moments on building and managing new relationships in a digital world.
• Texas Tech University’s Dr. Michael Finke will open eyes with ground-breaking research and the latest science on satisfaction in retirement. Learn the newest science that helps advisors gain a better understanding of choices retirees can make to improve life satisfaction, how the mind and body change over time and how these changes can affect financial planning issues from Dr. Finke, who has just completed ground breaking research for a new book, which he will share with you.
• Investment Industry Association President, Ian Russell, will share news on Cyber Security Risks to the financial markets and how firms can plan their defence. Find out how you can prepare your firm, your advisors and your clients for the real and massive risk of a cyber security breach and how to react with a plan designed to address firm-specific risks.

Day Two

• Joe Roberts, the “Skidrow CEO” will address an elephant in the room in family wealth practices. He faced addiction, homelessness and poverty.  His story enlightens advisors on the “Probability Mindset”. This can assist families too close to the destruction and devastation of addiction - a significant obstacle in wealth and estate planning - to address the elephant in the room with clarity, courage and confidence when it comes to family succession planning.
• Tax and wealth management expert Tim Cestnick will show how to bridge six types of capital from one generation to the next. Cestnick will share insights into six types of capital that advisors can assist their clients with. He will also focus on creative tax and estate strategies that can be used, in light of recent changes, to ensure the financial capital is preserved and transferred effectively.
• Blaine F. Aikin, author and speaker on fiduciary responsibility, will discuss your role as a principle- focused fiduciary. In a complex financial world where robo-investing, crowd funding and even robo-compliance are increasingly commonplace doing the right thing starts with a high academic standard and process that meet stringent regulatory burdens. The good news is that sound fiduciary principals and standards are over 3000 years old and can be engrained in your multi- generational practice.
• Eric Klein, founder and partner, Farber Financial Group, will turn your traditional knowledge on this subject upside down. You will learn that today’s transitioning CEO and business owner is actually “un-succession planning.”
• Last year’s top rated speaker, Todd Hynes, will present his entertaining session, “Finishing Well – How to Create Replenishable Wealth.”   Through the appropriate use of tax efficient solutions, including insurance solutions for testamentary and life interest trusts, you will learn how to be a Great Ghostbuster!

Day Three

• Ozy Comacho, publisher, Investment Executive and Finance et Investissement, will provide insights from a ground-breaking survey that rates satisfaction levels:  clients to financial advisors.
• Nicholas VanDerSche, head of advisor solutions, North America Morningstar Inc., will pose the question, can financial and robo-advice co-exist? He will look at the critical business building issues professionals face and ask you to think about whether outsourcing transactional aspects of your practice makes sense in favor of deeper relationships with clients and an opportunity to capture the largest wealth transfer in history.
• Best-selling author on cross-border tax issues, Angela Preteau will demystify FATCA, T1135 Foreign Asset Reporting and US-Canadian pension and estate tax issues. In this practical session, three important case studies that every advisor needs to know will be discussed.
• This years’ DAC Scholarship Winners - Keeley Simpson and Brandon Silbermann  - will provide insights into their future and share their successes.  Learn what type of mentors they seek, how the community at large plays a role in their business focus, and how out of the box thinking has helped them become Top Advisors. You will come away with a better understanding on how to recruit, mentor and develop young advisors for your flourishing practice.
• The controversial topic of Financial Infidelity will be broached by Craig Dowden, Ph.D., who has been described as “A Leader’s Best Friend” by W. Brett Wilson, former star of Dragon’s Den. Learn how to get to the heart of what you really need to know about your clients, how to engage in active listening, understand body language and address significant avoidance issues that can be an important part of the ‘money personalities’ that exist within the family.  You’ll learn how to promote ethical, empathetic leadership and engage in critical conversations that lead to sustainable family wealth.
• Follow Jody Urquhart in a humorous and insightful session; Trying to be an influential leader when people are burned out is very challenging… in fact it would be funny if it wasn’t happening to you! You’ll engage with focus toward an innovative and positive new perspective in building your practice and your more balanced life.

“The DAC conference site was chosen to reflect the planning needs of snowbirds and their families: close to two million Canadians make Mexico their winter home, says Evelyn Jacks, founder of DAC and Program Director.  “We are grateful to our sponsors , who make it possible for us to all advisors to evaluate the retirement and vacation lifestyle their clients may be contemplating, all the while forging important new business, educational and personal networks.”

For those who miss it, please mark next year’s dates:  November 6 to 9, 2016, and the location will be announced on November 8.th   The DAC is ground-breaking in thought leadership, but it’s also a great way to meet top advisors from across Canada.   Phone-in registrations are welcome at 1-866-953-4769.

ABOUT KNOWLEDGE BUREAU

Knowledge Bureau™ is Canada’s leading national educational institute for continuing professional development of advisors in the tax and financial services. Thousands of professionals choose Knowledge Bureau as their educational home.

Founded in 2003 by bestselling tax author and internationally acclaimed educational entrepreneur, Evelyn Jacks, Knowledge Bureau publishes close to 30 online courses leading to continuing education certification and diplomas. It is also the home of the prestigious MFA™ (Master Financial Advisor) designation, which provides core specialization opportunities in retirement, business, and succession/estate planning for multi-disciplinary financial services practices, and the DFA-Tax Services Specialist™ and DFA-Bookkeeping Services Specialist™ designations.

Knowledge Bureau also hosts regional CE/CPD workshops in major Canadian cities, the next starting later this month in Winnipeg, October 27, Vancouver October 28, Calgary October 29th and Toronto on November 2.